Yellow Mama E zine

Our Elders

​

by Brian Rosenberger

 

We loved them and cared for them,

And will always cherish their memory,

 

But they became too much,

A burden, an albatross, a reminder

That time is not kind.

.

Loss of memory, loss of mobility, loss of bodily functions.

They became no use to us but as cannon fodder

And we still had an ample supply of the Poor.

 

They grew increasingly unreasonable,

Argumentative even,

Their ears deaf to any options unless options of their choosing.

We were already tasked with raising our Offspring

And had no time or desire for compromise.

 

Our solution. Professional. Military. One shot. Kill shot.

No suffering, save for the surviving family.

And they better have plans to bury the past

And move forward.

Otherwise, we also have a solution for them.

 

Originally appeared in Sirens Call, 50th issue, 7/1/2020.

 

       Brian Rosenberger lives in a cellar in Marietta, GA and writes by the light of captured fireflies. He is the author of As the Worm Turns & four poetry collections.

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       Bernice Holtzman’s paintings and collages have appeared in shows at various venues in Manhattan, including the Back Fence in Greenwich Village, the Producer’s Club, the Black Door Gallery on W. 26th St., and one other place she can’t remember, but it was in a basement, and she was well received. She is the Assistant Art Director for Yellow Mama.